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In Four Volumes
Edited by
1882-89.
Preface
Dick of Devonshire
The Lady Mother
The Tragedy of Sir John Van Olden Barnavelt
Captain Underwit
Appendix I.
Appendix II.
Footnotes.
The plays in this volume are printed for the first time. All areanonymous; but it is absolutely certain that Sir John Van OldenBarnavelt is a masterpiece by Fletcher and Massinger; that CaptainUnderwit is a comedy of Shirley's; and that the Lady Mother (a pieceof no particular merit) is by Glapthorne. I am not at all sure that I amright in ascribing Dick of Devonshire to Heywood. But, whoever mayhave been the author, I am confident that this well-written play will bewelcomed by all. In Appendix I I give an account of the folio volume(Eg. MS. 1,994) from which the two last pieces are taken.
To Mr. ROBERT BOYLE, of St. Petersburg, I offer my sincere thanks forthe very interesting note (Appendix II) which he sent me after readingthe proof-sheets of Barnavelt. Elsewhere I have expressed my gratitudeto Mr. F.G. FLEAY for his valuable help.
The preparation of this volume has been a work of great labour, foreverything has been transcribed by my own hand; but the tedious delay inpublication has been due in great part to circumstances beyond mycontrol.
January 27, 1883.
The play of Dick of Devonshire, now first printed (from Eg. MS.,1994[1]), is distinctly a well-written piece, the work of a practisedhand. There is nothing amateurish in the workmanship; the reader is notdoomed to soar into extravagances at one moment, and sink intoflatnesses at another. Ample opportunities were offered for displays ofboisterous riot, but the playwright's even-balanced mind was not to bedisturbed. Everywhere there are traces of studious care; and we may besure that a style at once so equable and strong was not attained withouta long apprenticeship. Nor will the reader fail to note the lesson ofcharitableness and Christian forbearance constantly, yet unobtrusively,inculcated.
The hero of the play, Richard Pike, published, under the title of Threeto One, a pamphlet (reprinted in vol. i. of Mr. Arber's valuableEnglish Garner) describing his exploits. There is no date to thepamphlet; but it was no doubt issued very shortly after Pike's return,which took place on April 20, 1626. At the outset the writer apologisesfor the rudeness of his style, "I know not," he says, "what the court ofa king means, nor what the fine phrases of silken courtiers are. A goodship I know, and a poor cabin; and the language of a cannon: andtherefore as my breeding has been rough, scorning delicacy; and mypresent being consisteth altogether upon the soldier (blunt, plain andunpolished), so must my writings be, proceeding from fingers fitter forthe pike than the pen." In those days a soldier was never at a loss toexpress himself, and honest Dick Pike was no exception to the rule. Hegoes straight to the point, and relates his adventures very vividly inthe homeliest language. Returning from an expedition against Algiers"somewha